Sanskrit mantra
Ashtanga mantra
vande gurūṇāṁ caraṇāravinde
saṁdarśitasvātmasukhāvabodhe
niḥ śreyase jāṅ̇galikāyamāne
saṁsāra hālāhala mohaśāntyai
ābāhu puruṣākāraṁ
śaṅ̇khacakrāsi dhāriṇam
sahasra śirasaṁ śvetam
praṇamāmi patañjalim
which is roughly translated into English as:
I bow to the lotus feet of the gurus,
the awakening happiness of ones own self revealed,
beyond better, acting like the jungle physician,
pacifying delusion, the poison of samsara.
taking the form of a man to the shoulders,
holding a conch, a discus, and a sword,
one thousand heads white,
to Patanjali, I salute.
vande gurūṇāṁ caraṇāravinde
saṁdarśitasvātmasukhāvabodhe
niḥ śreyase jāṅ̇galikāyamāne
saṁsāra hālāhala mohaśāntyai
ābāhu puruṣākāraṁ
śaṅ̇khacakrāsi dhāriṇam
sahasra śirasaṁ śvetam
praṇamāmi patañjalim
which is roughly translated into English as:
I bow to the lotus feet of the gurus,
the awakening happiness of ones own self revealed,
beyond better, acting like the jungle physician,
pacifying delusion, the poison of samsara.
taking the form of a man to the shoulders,
holding a conch, a discus, and a sword,
one thousand heads white,
to Patanjali, I salute.
Sahana mantra
Om Sahana vavatu
Sahano bhunaktu
Saha viryam karavavahai
Tejas vinaa vadhitamastu
Ma vidvishavahai
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
which is roughly translated into English as:
Together may we be protected
Together may we be nourished
Together may we work with great energy
May our journey together be brilliant and effective
May we never turn to be enemies
Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
Om Sahana vavatu
Sahano bhunaktu
Saha viryam karavavahai
Tejas vinaa vadhitamastu
Ma vidvishavahai
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
which is roughly translated into English as:
Together may we be protected
Together may we be nourished
Together may we work with great energy
May our journey together be brilliant and effective
May we never turn to be enemies
Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
Gayatri mantra
Om Bhu
Om Bhuvaha
Om Swaha
Om Maha
Om Jyanaha
Om Tapaha
Om Satyam
Om Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Diyo yona prachodayat
which is roughly translated into English as:
Om salutations to the earth realm (1st chakra)
Om and salutations to the sky realm (2nd chakra)
Om and salutations to the heavenly realm (3rd chakra)
Om and salutations to the realm of Brahma, heart vibration (4th chakra)
Om and salutations to the realm of the power of the divine Word (5th chakra)
Om and salutations to the sphere of the progenitors (6th chakra)
Om and salutations to the abode of Supreme Truth (7th chakra)
That divine lightthat is beyond human comprehension
In that place where all the celestrials of all the spheres have received enlightenment,
kindly enlighten our intellect.
Om Bhu
Om Bhuvaha
Om Swaha
Om Maha
Om Jyanaha
Om Tapaha
Om Satyam
Om Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Diyo yona prachodayat
which is roughly translated into English as:
Om salutations to the earth realm (1st chakra)
Om and salutations to the sky realm (2nd chakra)
Om and salutations to the heavenly realm (3rd chakra)
Om and salutations to the realm of Brahma, heart vibration (4th chakra)
Om and salutations to the realm of the power of the divine Word (5th chakra)
Om and salutations to the sphere of the progenitors (6th chakra)
Om and salutations to the abode of Supreme Truth (7th chakra)
That divine lightthat is beyond human comprehension
In that place where all the celestrials of all the spheres have received enlightenment,
kindly enlighten our intellect.
Mantras can excite the emotions and give suggestions to the mind. Mantras affect both the one who chants them as the one who hears them. The word mantra comes from the Sanskrit "mantrana", which means advice or suggestion. In a sense, every word is a mantra. In our daily life we use words to get everything done, obtain everything we need. Each mantra or word is a sound pattern that suggests to the mind the meanings inherent in it, and the mind immediately responds.
According to Ramana Maharshi, repetition of mantras (japa), with attention directed to the source of the sound, completely engages the mind. This is Tapas (penance). The source is not in the vocal chords alone, but also the idea of the sound is in the mind, whose source is self. Thus the practice of mantra repetition is more than a suggestion, a bit of advice or an idea. It is a means of getting in touch with our self.
A fast speed sometimes creates a continuous vibration and when it is done in groups it creates a good effect, because the mind works in synchronization with the beat cycle and has no time to fantasize. Fast chanting of mantras exhausts the mind, heart and breath and relaxation comes after the chanting is over.
Slowing the beat cycle of mantras also creates the same continuous vibration, but it slows down the speed of mind, heart and breath while the chanting is going on. It induces a hypnagogic state, but it is good only when the chanting of mantras is done individually. A medium-speed beat cycle is good for group and individual chanting of mantras. It does not disturb the heartbeat or breathing pattern and makes the mind more awake, alert and conscious.
According to Ramana Maharshi, repetition of mantras (japa), with attention directed to the source of the sound, completely engages the mind. This is Tapas (penance). The source is not in the vocal chords alone, but also the idea of the sound is in the mind, whose source is self. Thus the practice of mantra repetition is more than a suggestion, a bit of advice or an idea. It is a means of getting in touch with our self.
A fast speed sometimes creates a continuous vibration and when it is done in groups it creates a good effect, because the mind works in synchronization with the beat cycle and has no time to fantasize. Fast chanting of mantras exhausts the mind, heart and breath and relaxation comes after the chanting is over.
Slowing the beat cycle of mantras also creates the same continuous vibration, but it slows down the speed of mind, heart and breath while the chanting is going on. It induces a hypnagogic state, but it is good only when the chanting of mantras is done individually. A medium-speed beat cycle is good for group and individual chanting of mantras. It does not disturb the heartbeat or breathing pattern and makes the mind more awake, alert and conscious.
